After the exit of the coup leader, Defence Minister Awad Ibn Auf, and security chief Gen Salah Gosh, Sudan’s transitional military council has reportedly arrested top former government officials.
Sudan’s long-time leader Omar al-Bashir was ousted and arrested on Thursday after facing months of protests. The demonstrators have vowed to continue protests until there is an immediate move to civilian rule. They continue to sit-in outside the defence ministry in the capital Khartoum.
Lt Gen Abdel Fattah Abdelrahman Burhan has been announced as the new head of the transitional military council and Lieutenant General Abu Bakr Mustafa has been appointed as the new chief of Sudan’s National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS).
A spokesman transitional military council went on to urge the opposition to select the next prime minister and vowed to implement their choice.
During a press conference on Sunday, spokesman Maj Gen Shams Ad-din Shanto said the military council would accept whatever civilian government the opposition parties agreed, reported BBC.
“We won’t appoint a PM,” he said adding, “They’ll choose one,” referring to opposition and protest groups.
Furthermore, the spokesman ensured that the army would not remove protesters from their sit-in by force. However, he called on protesters to stop unauthorized roadblocks and allow normal life resume.
“Taking up arms will not be tolerated,” Ad-din Shanto added.
The military council made some major announcements, including the name of the new heads of the army and the police, as well as the new head of the powerful National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS).
The council also announced committees to fight corruption, and to investigate the former ruling party, lifting of all media restrictions and censorship, release of police and security officers detained for supporting protesters, the dismissal of Sudan’s ambassadors to the US and to the UN in Geneva, and and called for a review of diplomatic missions.
